Postpartum Underwear

ABSTRACT

The disclosed undergarment is the only product of its kind that is intended to provide instant relief and reduce postpartum after-pains via support of an undergarment. This top quality product is uniquely designed with plush, breathable and leak proof material to guarantee user comfort. Furthermore, the disclosed undergarment includes cutting edge slots for ice gel packs and small packets of organic witch hazel and organic aloe vera, for their healing properties. The disclosed undergarment includes a panty comprising leg openings and a crotch pocket accessible via a crotch slot between the leg openings. The disclosure also includes a crotch insert configured to be received into the crotch pocket via the crotch slot. The disclosure further includes a belly support attached to the panty at a waist line and configured to fold over itself and over the waist line to provide a variable support band.

BACKGROUND

Women, often after delivery, go through an intense postpartum period in which the body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. During this transition stage, women tend to experience lower abdominal cramps, soreness, leakage, and extreme discomfort. To assist the healing period, there are little to no products available in the market that are specifically made for the postpartum period, other than the average menstrual pads which do not offer proper support. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem.

An apparatus to simplify the recovery of postpartum, giving adequate coverage, support and comfort. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem either.

There exists a need for Postpartum Underwear that is not being met by any known or disclosed device or system of present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the Postpartum Underwear is to provide mothers with a postpartum undergarment to be used after child birth. The disclosed undergarment includes a panty comprising leg openings and a crotch pocket accessible via a crotch slot between the leg openings. The disclosure also includes a crotch insert configured to be received into the crotch pocket via the crotch slot. The disclosure further includes a belly support attached to the panty at a waist line and configured to fold over itself and over the waist line to provide a variable support band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of Postpartum Underwear in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of Postpartum Underwear including a folded belly support piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a single belly support fold of through section. A-A of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the Postpartum Underwear including a twice folded belly support piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the belly support double fold through section B-B of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts two crotch inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements depicted in multiple embodiments. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of Postpartum Underwear showing: Postpartum underpants mad of leak proof breathable material referenced as A., Slot to insert gel packs referenced as B. The view also includes the inside band C1 of the belly support C, the leg openings L, the waist line W and the belly support fold line J and the outside surface A1 of the panty and the pocket seam P running between the legs L and up to the waist line in the front and back of the panty undergarment with belly support.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of Postpartum Underwear including a folded belly support piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The view includes the Postpartum underpants mad of leak proof breathable material surface referenced as A1., Slot to insert gel packs referenced as B., Belly support inside surface referenced as C2., the leg openings L, the waist line W, the pocket seam P the belly support fold line or transition J and the cross section A-A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a single belly support fold of through section A-A of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is noted that the panty A is attached to the folding belly support at W waist line and inside surface C1 becomes the outside surface C1 and the inside surface for the present embodiment is an inside surface. The fold line or transition line J is shown inside proximal a top of the folded belly support.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the Postpartum Underwear including a twice folded belly support piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is noted that the inside surface C2 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is now an outside surface to air out body fluids and body oils picked up from the skin previously touching the surface C2. Likewise in a single fold embodiment of above, the surface C1 is outside to air out and be available to cleaning where in the unfolded embodiment it was inside and adjacent the skin or another undergarment. The section B-B is shown for detailed explanation in FIG. 5 below.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the belly support double fold through section B-B of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As noted above, the inside surface C2 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is now an outside surface to air out body fluids and body oils picked up from the skin previously touching the surface C2. The fold line or transition J is now adjacent a bottom end of the fold and the belly support at the waist line W becomes the top side of the folded belly support or also known as the variable support band.

FIG. 6 depicts two crotch inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Ice gel pack referenced as D., Small packet of organic witch hazel and organic aloe referenced as E., and the recess F in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The recess F is an impression in some embodiments and a void in other embodiments designed to allow surgical wounds to heal in the perineum area of the wearer and also adjacent areas as needed.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the belly support is available in Velcro so a user or wearer can adjust or undo the support if at some point they are tired of wearing it. The belly support is still built in but also includes an option of wrapping it around themselves and securing it with Velcro.

The present disclosed Postpartum Underwear, also known as “Gaffney's Undergarment”, offers an accessory that provides full coverage from leaking, offers belly support and helps soothe post-delivery aches and pains. Expanding on the initial design of average underpants, the Gaffney's Undergarment introduces a novel undergarment made of a leak proof and breathable material with a belly support extension and ice gel pack slots. All components of the undergarment are strategically placed to provide complete relief by easing the pain of abdominal pressure, and eliminating the need for mothers to constantly worry about leaking and/or changing their underpants. The Gaffney's Undergarment ensures a multi-functional underwear selection that is specifically tailored for women in the postpartum stage to allow for a more comfortable and convenient experience. This unprecedented garment will greatly benefit all new mothers.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An undergarment comprising: a panty comprising leg openings and a crotch pocket accessible via a crotch slot between the leg openings; a crotch insert configured to be received into the crotch pocket via the crotch slot; and a belly support attached to the panty at a waist line and configured to fold over itself and over the waist line to provide a variable support band.
 2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch slot is disposed proximal a front portion of the panty in relation to a rear portion thereof.
 3. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch pocket extends between the leg openings in the panty.
 4. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch insert comprises an elliptical gelatinous pack defining a recess therein.
 5. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch insert comprises a rectangular pack of organic witch hazel and organic aloe gel.
 6. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the belly support folds over itself approximately in half of a width thereof in a double band.
 7. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the belly support folds over itself and over the waist line in a triple band including a reinforced panty waist band.
 8. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the belly support folds over itself at a radial fold in the belly support.
 9. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein an inside of the belly support becomes an outside of the variable support band.
 10. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the belly support band is circumferentially reinforced.
 11. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the belly support is detachable from the panty as a separate variable support band.
 12. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch pocket is moisture proof.
 13. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the crotch slot is sealable against a moisture passing there through.
 14. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the belly support becomes an inside surface of the variable waist band. 